Corneal implant injector assembly and methods of use

Abstract

A corneal implant injector assembly includes a barrel, a plunger, and an injector tip with a channel having a size and orientation adapted to store and deliver a corneal implant. The corneal implant is preferably stored in the channel in a contracted state. The plunger has an implant engagement tip for engaging and moving the implant within the channel and to deploy the implant. In some embodiments, the injector tip is selectively detachable from the remaining portion of the injector assembly.

1 . A corneal implant delivery system, comprising: 
 a plunger contained within a housing and capable of being advanced distally within the housing, the plunger having a distal end;    a tip portion associated with a distal end of the housing, said tip portion having an upper wall and lower wall defining a channel, and a tongue portion extending distally of the channel from one of said upper wall and said lower wall; and    a corneal implant retained within the tip portion channel, said corneal implant being in a contracted state while retained within the tip portion channel;    wherein the distal end of said plunger engages said corneal implant when the plunger is advanced distally.    
   
   
       2 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said tongue portion comprises a flat member having a rounded distal edge.  
   
   
       3 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second side walls connecting the upper wall and lower wall of the tip portion, said first and second side walls being generally parallel to one another, said upper wall and said lower wall being generally parallel to one another, and said first and second sidewall and said upper wall and said lower wall defining the channel.  
   
   
       4 . The implant delivery system of  claim 3 , wherein a first distance between said upper wall and said lower wall of the tip portion is smaller than a second distance between said first side wall and said second side wall of the tip portion.  
   
   
       5 . The implant delivery system of  claim 4 , wherein said first distance is between about 2.0 mm and about 6.0 mm, and said second distance is between about 200 microns and about 1.2 mm.  
   
   
       6 . The implant delivery of system of  claim 1 , wherein said tip portion is formed integrally with the housing.  
   
   
       7 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said tip portion is detachable from the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The implant delivery system of  claim 7 , wherein said plunger comprises a first plunger portion contained within said housing, and a second plunger portion contained within said tip portion.  
   
   
       9 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring member interposed between a portion of said housing and a portion of said plunger, said spring member providing a force biasing said plunger proximally relative to said housing.  
   
   
       10 . The implant delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongated implant positioning member associated with said housing, said implant positioning member being capable of movement relative to said tip portion.  
   
   
       11 . The implant delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein said implant positioning member further comprises a lever extending through a slot on said housing.  
   
   
       12 . A method of placing a corneal implant onto a corneal tissue surface comprising: 
 forming a site on or in a cornea for receiving a corneal implant;    positioning a corneal implant delivery system proximal to the site, said corneal implant system comprising a tip portion containing a corneal implant and a plunger; and    actuating the plunger of said delivery system to cause the corneal implant to be discharged from the tip portion of the delivery system onto or into the site.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising positioning the corneal implant on or in the site.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said forming step comprises performing a surgical procedure upon the cornea.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said surgical procedure comprises forming a corneal flap.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said surgical procedure comprises forming a corneal pocket.